Play Time

Tina and Jim Lipkowski credit sister design team Karen Mathiesen Brown and Kristina Mathiesen with delivering exactly what they wanted for their renovated dream home located in the residential enclave of Peninsula Point in Newport Beach, California.

Their cheerful style can be spelled out pretty clearly with a glance at the eclectic artwork hanging throughout the home, such as the large, lit-up letters in the playroom that promise "F-U-N."

2 of 8Photo: David Tsay

Made for Fun

"They bought the place knowing that they would have to redo everything," Brown says, "but that's exactly what they wanted: a house in a family-friendly community, one that was a blank canvas, so they could make it their own."

Cool for Kids

With two young daughters in tow, the couple wanted to plant roots somewhere the girls could safely explore—but they didn't want to sacrifice being in the center of it all, either, so they tapped Brown and Mathiesen to craft a home built to be welcoming.

Blank Canvas

Working with architect Eric Aust and builder Tim Grady, the designers tore down the interior walls in the main living areas to create an open floor plan with a new, modern kitchen, a built-in breakfast nook, and a cozy living room that opens onto a courtyard.

Pops of Color

Upstairs, Brown and Mathiesen had the dated wallpaper removed before cloaking each room in fresh coats of white paint, relying instead on modern art and fun fabrics and accessories to provide the perfect splashes of color and intrigue. In the room that the girls share a hot pink sheepskin rug, chevron throws, and a tongue-in-cheek framed print boasting valley girl slang jazz up the light walls, carpeting, and white bedding.

The chandelier in the girls' room is fromIKEA, and the poster is fromSuper Rural.

6 of 8Photo: David Tsay

Keeping it Cool

The master bedroom, too, is all shades of neutral with the exception of a statement-making deep, peacock blue settee at the foot of the bed and a graphic duvet on top.

Breathing Room

The real beauty of the house, however, lies in the ways it seamlessly integrates its indoor and outdoor spaces. Large French doors open from the living room out to the front of the house, where the Lipkowskis use their courtyard as a true extension of the interiors, complete with a fire pit, a dining table, and plenty of seating options.

The fire pit in the courtyard is stacked with cannon balls, an alternative to traditional wood logs.

8 of 8Photo: David Tsay

Homemade in the Shade

The designers' father even crafted homemade swings for the girls. "This house was a family affair in more ways than one," Brown says. "Our dad put a lot of work into those swings, finding and sanding the discs and then covering them in marine-grade paint; he even tested different ropes before suspending them from the tree in front. It was special for the girls."